Defense attorney Mark O'Mara, right, talks with Assistant state attorney John Guy before a recess during the George Zimmerman trial in Seminole circuit court, in Sanford, Fla., Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen, in 2012. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Jacob Langston, Pool)

ORLANDO — With the state likely to rest today in the George Zimmerman trial, speculation is rampant about how long the defense might go.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara told Orlando station WKMG-TV that he plans to put on a lot of witnesses, including family members, neighbors, friends and an expert on a timeline of Trayvon Martin’s fatal shooting by Zimmerman. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder.

But the TV analysts on Anderson Cooper’s CNN show weren’t buying that preview Wednesday night. So how do they see it playing out?

“The defense has been able to try their case within the prosecution’s case,” Marcia Clark told Cooper. “So I do think it will be relatively brief. I think they will rest next week.”

Sunny Hostin agreed. “I don’t think the defense is going to put on a long case, at all, maybe two or three witnesses at most,” she told Cooper. “We could be looking at a verdict, I think, by next week.”

Jose Baez predicted that forensic pathologist Vincent Di Maio will take center stage in the defense’s case. “You don’t hire a superstar like that and not call them,” said the attorney who successfully defended Casey Anthony.

On Thursday morning television, legal analysts highlighted how Zimmerman didn’t tell the truth, in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, about knowing nothing about stand your ground law. Capt. Alexis Carter testified that he taught Zimmerman about the law at Seminole State College.

“The prosecution can say to jurors you can’t believe him (Zimmerman),” Jack Ford said on “CBS This Morning.”

On NBC’s “Today,” Lisa Bloom said Zimmerman appears to be caught in “an out and out lie” in the “Hannity” interview. “This is something the prosecution can argue in closing argument,” Bloom said. “You know what, he was educated enough in the law of self-defense to concoct a story right at the time of this shooting and give it to the police and stick to that story that it was self-defense because he knew that could exonerate him.”

On ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Brooklyn prosecutor Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi said the prosecution made progress with Carter’s testimony and Zimmerman’s statement on “Hannity.” “It goes toward why is he (Zimmerman) making those things up? Why is he embellishing?” Nicolazzi asked. “Maybe because he realizes, and I think that to be true, that he went too far.”

The CNN analysts saw problems for the state with Capt. Carter’s testimony.

“I’m a little shocked that the judge allowed this type of testimony to be admitted to begin with,” Baez told Cooper. “I’ve never heard of a witness instructing the jury on the law. That’s generally reserved for the judge to do.” The defense score “a grand slam” with “dream witness” Carter, Baez said.

Mark Geragos, who has repeatedly slammed the state’s performance, told Cooper: “What I don’t understand is why didn’t the prosecution object to this? When the question is asked, objection, motion to strike?”

Hostin agreed that the defense used Carter to instruct the jury a bit about stand your ground law.

But she said “the biggest takeaway” from Carter’s testimony was Zimmerman’s lying about not knowing stand your ground law.

“So I think that the jury is not going to forget that,” Hostin added. “They will see that there was, perhaps, a lie there. Why do you lie about whether or not you know stand your ground? Well, you lie about it because the jury can infer or the police can infer that you framed the narrative, you framed your story so that you get off.”

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Zimmerman profiled Martin, who he was told not to follow, and then shot him at close range during a scuffle.

The defense is arguing self-defense. GZ could well have a case, but that is for the jury to decide.

If, Occupy Marines, you truly believe this trial is not about race, then you are a penny short and a day late.

Very, very sadly it IS about race. Look at some of the hateful comments posted here (Comments) about Trayvon Martin--all stereotypic smears due to his race. Race hatred is alve and WELL in America. Don't let anyone sell you some swampland over this one.

One thing is certain: Zimmerman is receiving a superlative defense. How can your heart not break over his act? He killed a kid who was, IMO, defending himself! Look into Zimmerman's eyes. He is not as stoic as he seems. His life has changed forever. Despite his statement earlier, my bet is that he now wishes he had never gone out that night for lunch fixings.

Then look into the faces of Gladys Zimmerman, Sybrina Fulton, Jahvaris Fulton--all the family from both sides. This is a horrible, horrible situation. It is sad for the young man who was killed and it is sad for the young man who killed him--for whatever reason--and who will have no life after this plays out. Two lives down the tubes, even if Zimmerman is found not guilty.

I don't see any malice. I see just stupidity and a misplaced avidness on Zimmerman's part; I see being black and in the wrong place at the wrong time and standing up for yourself out of fear on Martin's part.